Yash Choksi, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)
Yash Choksi, M.D.
- Assistant Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition)
yash.a.choksi@vumc.org
Research Program
Research Description
The purpose of this study is to determine if a combination of two drugs sacituzumab govitecan and atezolizumab works as a treatment for residual cancer in the breast or lymph nodes and have circulating tumor DNA in the blood.
This research study involves the following investigational drugs:
* Sacituzumab govitecan
* Atezolizumab
Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis
- Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare disorder that can damage tissue or cause lesions to form in one or more places in the body.
- It is not known whether LCH is a form of cancer or a cancer-like disease.
- Family history of cancer or having a parent who was exposed to certain chemicals may increase the risk of LCH.
- The signs and symptoms of LCH depend on where it is in the body.
- Bone
- Skin and nails
- Mouth
- Lymph nodes and thymus
- Endocrine system
- Eye
- Central nervous system (CNS)
- Liver and spleen
- Lung
- Bone marrow
- Tests that examine the organs and body systems where LCH may occur are used to diagnose LCH.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Osteosarcoma and Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of Bone
- Osteosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) of bone are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in bone.
- Having past treatment with chemotherapy or radiation can increase the risk of osteosarcoma.
- Signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma and UPS include swelling over a bone or a bony part of the body and joint pain.
- Imaging tests are used to detect (find) osteosarcoma and UPS.
- A biopsy is done to diagnose osteosarcoma.
- Certain factors may affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Ewing Sarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma is a type of tumor that forms in bone or soft tissue.
- Undifferentiated round cell sarcoma may also occur in the bone or soft tissue.
- Signs and symptoms of Ewing sarcoma include swelling and pain near the tumor.
- Tests that examine the bone and soft tissue are used to diagnose and stage Ewing sarcoma.
- A biopsy is done to diagnose Ewing sarcoma.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery).
Extracranial Germ Cell Tumors
- Childhood extracranial germ cell tumors form from germ cells in parts of the body other than the brain.
- Childhood extracranial germ cell tumors may be benign or malignant.
- Childhood extracranial germ cell tumors are grouped as gonadal or extragonadal extracranial tumors.
- Gonadal germ cell tumors
- Extragonadal extracranial germ cell tumors
- There are three types of extracranial germ cell tumors.
- Teratomas
- Malignant germ cell tumors
- Mixed germ cell tumors
- The cause of most childhood extracranial germ cell tumors is unknown.
- Having certain inherited disorders can increase the risk of extracranial germ cell tumors.
- Signs of childhood extracranial germ cell tumors depend on where the tumor formed in the body.
- Imaging studies and blood tests are used to diagnose childhood extracranial germ cell tumors.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.
Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors
- Childhood central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors form from germ cells.
- There are different types of childhood CNS germ cell tumors.
- Germinomas
- Nongerminomas
- Teratomas
- The cause of most childhood CNS germ cell tumors is not known.
- Signs and symptoms of childhood CNS germ cell tumors include unusual thirst, frequent urination, or vision changes.
- Imaging studies and other tests are used to help diagnose childhood CNS germ cell tumors.
- A biopsy may be done to be sure of the diagnosis of a CNS germ cell tumor.
- Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery).
This phase III trial compares the effect of selumetinib versus the standard of care treatment with carboplatin and vincristine (CV) in treating patients with newly diagnosed or previously untreated low-grade glioma (LGG) that does not have a genetic abnormality called BRAFV600E mutation and is not associated with systemic neurofibromatosis type 1. Selumetinib works by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and may kill tumor cells. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Vincristine is in a class of medications called vinca alkaloids. It works by stopping tumor cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. The overall goal of this study is to see if selumetinib works just as well as the standard treatment of CV for patients with LGG. Another goal of this study is to compare the effects of selumetinib versus CV in subjects with LGG to find out which is better. Additionally, this trial will also examine if treatment with selumetinib improves the quality of life for subjects who take it.
Smita Misra, PhD
- Assistant Professor
Smita Misra, PhD
- Assistant Professor
smisra@mmc.edu
Research Program
This phase II trial studies the best approach to combine chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) based on the patient's response to induction chemotherapy in patients with non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) that have not spread to other parts of the brain or body (localized). This study has 2 goals: 1) optimizing radiation for patients who respond well to induction chemotherapy to diminish spinal cord relapses, 2) utilizing higher dose chemotherapy followed by conventional RT in patients who did not respond to induction chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide, and thiotepa, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays or high-energy protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Studies have shown that patients with newly-diagnosed localized NGGCT, whose disease responds well to chemotherapy before receiving radiation therapy, are more likely to be free of the disease for a longer time than are patients for whom the chemotherapy does not efficiently eliminate or reduce the size of the tumor. The purpose of this study is to see how well the tumors respond to induction chemotherapy to decide what treatment to give next. Some patients will be given RT to the spine and a portion of the brain. Others will be given high dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant before RT to the whole brain and spine. Giving treatment based on the response to induction chemotherapy may lower the side effects of radiation in some patients and adjust the therapy to a more efficient one for other patients with localized NGGCT.
